Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
2/27 Reading Portions: Exodus 10; Luke 13; Job 28; 1 Corinthians 14
Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
“It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” Luke 13:21
DARKNESS
When we study Scripture, we need to be especially careful when it comes to interpreting the parables of the Lord. This verse is a case in point. Nowhere in the Old or New Testaments do we ever encounter leaven being interpreted as “good” when it is mentioned metaphorically or allegorically. Leaven has always represented sin in Scripture… until you read some of the Bible commentators, both past and contemporary. Why this exception? I believe because they’ve been saved by the precious Lord, as have we. They see His gospel as marvelous and powerful, as do we. There’s something terribly appealing to our flesh to consider that the gospel will prevail and usher in the millennial kingdom in holy perfection. The Post-millennial view of the end times has surely sprung from misinterpretations of verses like this one.
Leaven was not allowed to be included in the holy offerings (Lev 2:11), with only one exception—Pentecost (Lev 23:17). Leaven was just explained by the Lord as the sin of hypocrisy, whereas the Pharisees’ doctrine was concerned (Luke 12:1). Paul equated leaven with sin in general and even called it malicious and evil (1 Cor 5:5-8; Gal 5:9).
Salvation in Christ and the joy of His eternal presence, provision, and protection is wonderful indeed. Our Lord, however, wants us to mature in grace and be strengthened in faith. We need to be aware that His kingdom dwells in the midst of a corrupt world until He returns. There are religious folk (a woman) who will secretly inject (took and hid) sin and worldly corruptions (leaven) into the humble hospitality of Christ’s church (in three measures of flour). Although we have been saved by God’s grace, we must be alert to the reality of sin around us. It is like “a darkness to be felt” (Ex 10:21), as well as sin which still remains in our mortal flesh:
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. Romans 7:18
When we know the reality of Romans 7, we may march confidently to victory in Christ, as recorded in Romans 8. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
We can’t ignore the darkness of
The godless world around;
It causes faith to look above
So God’s grace does abound.
